Here are my 10 favorite songs penned by Gulzar over the years, which I have attempted to translate. It’s hard to express the same deep meaning in the translations but if some part of the essence is retained in them I would consider myself to be successful…
I. One of the earliest films for Gulzar as film lyricist was Bandini'' (Imprisoned) directed by the highly acclaimed director Bimal Roy and with music by the legendary S.D. Burman. It was the music director who coaxed him to pen one of the very popular songs from the film….one that captures the yearning and emotions of a woman in love…
Moraa goraa ang lai le, mohe shaam rang dai de
chhoop jaaoongee raat hee me, mohe pee kaa sang de de
I don’t desire this beautiful countenance, I wish to be anonymous
To slip quietly into the night and seek the company of my beloved
Ek laaj roke paiyyaa, ek moh khinche baiyyaa
Jaaoon kidhar naa jaanoo, humakaa koee bataaeede
I feel shy and I hesitate, but the yearning is too strong
Should I go, should I stay…oh! How can I decide…
Badalee hataa ke chandaa, chup ke se jhaanke chandaa
tohe raahoo laage bairee, musakaye jee jalaayake
The moon then peeps quietly, from behind the veil of clouds
May the eclipse torment you!, After igniting desire you choose to hide!
kuchh kho diyaa hain paayake, kuchh paa liyaa gawaayake
kahaa le chalaa hain manawaa, mohe baawaree banaayake
I gave up a part of me to feel this way; my loss became my gain…
The song in my heart leads this dance and I just follow in a trance!
II. Another landmark in the remarkable journey of this remarkable poet was the film “Khamoshi”( Silence) in 1969. The film had some great music and some memorable lyrics. One of the songs talks about love…how it can just be felt and not defined…
Humne dekhi hai un aankhon ki mehakti khushboo haath se chhoo ke ise rishton ka ilzaam na do sirf ehsaas hai ye, rooh se mehsoos karo pyaar ko pyaar hi rehne do, koi naam na do
I have sensed the fragrance in those looks Cannot be touched…can only be felt A feeling ..let the soul comprehend it Let love just be love…and have no other name!
pyaar koi bol nahi, pyaar awaaz nahi ek khamoshi hai, sunti hai kaha karti hai na ye bujhti hai na rukti hai, na thehri hai kahin noor ki boond hai, sadiyon se baha karti hai sirf ehsaas hai ye, rooh se mehsoos karo pyaar ko pyaar hi rehne do, koi naam na do
Love isn’t words, it isn’t a sound… It’s silence that listens and speaks… Can’t be extinguished, cannot be curbed Never ends…just flows on… A drop of light…illuminating the world forever A feeling… let the soul comprehend it Let love just be love…and have no other name!
muskuraahat si khili rehti hai, aankhon mein kahin aur palkon pe ujale se, jhuke rehte hain honth kuchh kehte nahi, kaanpte honthon pe magar kitne khaamosh se afsaane, ruke rehte hain sirf ehsaas hai ye, rooh se mahsoos karo pyaar ko pyaar hi rehne do, koi naam na do.
A smile seems to always lurk in the eyes On the lids there is a shadow of light No words escape from the lips Which quiver, wanting to tell many a silent tale A feeling… let the soul comprehend it Let love just be love…and have no other name!
III. In 1972, Gulzar directed a movie, 'Parichay' (Introduction) which was inspired by the classic “Sound of Music”- a delightful tale with some great songs. Kishore Kumar, who some argue to be the all time best male playback singer of the Hindi film industry lent his voice to this evergreen , philosophical number...
Musafir Hoon Yaaron Na Ghar Hai Na Tikhana Musafir Hoon Yaaron Na Ghar Hai Na Tikhan Mujhe Chalte Jaana Hai Bas Chalte Jaana
I am traveler in the quest of life No address, no home to call my own All I have to do is go on…just go on forever.
Ek Raah Rukh Gayi Tho Aur Judh Gayi Main Mura Tho Saath Saath Raha Murgayi Hawaon Ke Paron Par Mera Ashiana Musafir Hoon Yaaron Na Ghar Hai Na Tikhana Mujhe Chalte Jaana Hai Bas Chalte Jaana
Where one road ends, another begins Whenever my life took a turn, new paths appeared Up above…on the wings of the wind, lies my destination I am a traveller…
Din Ne Haath Thaam Kar Idhar Bithaliya Raat Ne Ishaare Se Udhar Bulahliya Subah se Shaam Se Mera Dostana Musafir Hoon Yaaron Na Ghar Hai Na Tikhana Mujhe Chalte Jaana Hai Bas Chalte Jaana
The day held my hand and coaxed me to pause The night then signaled for me to carry on The dawns are my friends, the dusks my companions.. I am a traveller…
IV. In 1975, the Gulzar directed film 'Aandhi' (The storm) was released. The music director was the musical genius, R.D. Burman. The duo have had a very successful partnership that has regaled the music lovers with some fantastic songs for years.
Tere bina zindagi se koyi, shikwa, to nahi, shikwa nahi, shikwa nahi, Tere bina zindagi bhi lekin, zindagi, to nahi, zindagi nahi, zindagi nahi Without you…I have no complaints about life Because without you life isn’t really life
Kaash aisa ho tere qadmo se, chun ke manzil chale aur kahi door kahi - 2 Tum gar saath ho, manzilo ki kami to nahi How I wish I could choose to go wherever you led me With you by my side there wouldn’t be a dearth of places that I would want to be
Jee mein aata hai, tere daaman mein, sar jhuka ke ham rote rahe, rote rahe - 2 Teri bhi aankho mein, aansuo ki nami to nahi Sometimes I wish I could rest my head on your shoulders and just cry Did I see a hint of tears too…in your beautiful eyes
Tum jo keh do to aaj ki raat, chaand doobega nahi, raat ko rok lo - 2 Raat ki baat hai, aur zindagi baaki to nahi If you want I can order the moon to shine all night, for the time to stop Just for this night…not the rest of our lives!
V./ VI. A poignant tale of two lovers struggling to find a home in the bustling city of Mumbai- 'Gharonda' (Home) in 1977 had Gulzar teaming up with Jaidev, a rare musical talent. There are two versions of this song- a happy one picturized on the couple in love sung by Bhupinder and the then very popular Bangladeshi singer Runa Laila and a sad one which potrays the pain of a lonely man who has lost his love…
Do diwaane shahar me, raat mein yaa dopahar mein aabodaanaa dhoondhate hai, yek aashiyaanaa dhoondhate hain.
Two crazy hearts in love On a mission, day and night… Searching, seeking Their love nest…a place to call their own.
in bhoolabhoolaiyyaa galiyon mein apanaa bhee koee yek ghar hogaa anbar pe khoolegee khidakee, yaa khidakee pe khulaa anbar hogaa asamaanee rang kee aakhon me, basane kaa bahaanaa dhoondhate hain.
Somewhere in the middle of this maddening maze We too shall have our own place With large windows that open into the sky Or will it be the sky that will descend through them The azure eyes.. Day dreaming of the dream house…
jab taare jameen par jalate hain, aakaash jameen ho jaataa hain us raat naheen fir ghar jaataa, wo chaand yahee so jaataa hain palabhar ke liye in aakhon mein, hum yek jamaanaa dhoondhate hain.
When the stars come down and tread on the earth The grounds transform into the skies And the moon refuses to go back home And sleep right there that night…. As we look into each others’ eyes…
That moment becomes our life…
Ek Akela Is Shahar Mein Raat Mein Aur Dopahar Mein
Aabodaana Dhoondta Hai Aashiyana Dhoondta
A lonely soul in this crowd Seeks a place to call his own A roof on his head, some walls To shut out the world…
Din Khali Khali Bartan Hai Aur Raat Hai Jaise Andha Kuan In Sooni Andheri Aankhon Se Aansoon Ki Jagah Aata Hain Dhuan Jeene Ki Vajah To Koi Nahi Marne Ka Bahana Dhoondta Hai Ek Akela Is Shahar Mein...
The days are empty … the nights are like an unending dark tunnel… The dejected eyes no longer shed tears, just smoke from embers of a broken heart No reason to live; now it just seeks an excuse to escape.
In Umar Se Lambi Sadkon Ko Manzil Pe Pohonchte Dekha Nahin Bas Daudti Phirti Rahti Hain Humne To Theherte Dekha Nahin Is Ajnabi Se Shahar Mein Jaana Pehechana Dhoondta Hai
Ek Akela Is Shahar Mein...
These roads, which are longer than life, do they ever find their destination? They keep running…convoluting, haven’t ever seen them halt In this strange unknown land, the soul seeks a known face…. A lonely soul in the crowd….
VII. 'Ijazat' (Permission) 1987, was a sensitive film in the “art” genre directed by Gulzar that explored the complexities of human emotions. This song that won national awards for both the singer, Asha Bhonsle and Gulzar, the lyricist struck a chord with everyone who had ever been in love...
Meraa kuchh saamaan tumhaare paas padaa hain saawan ke kuchh bheege bheege din rakhe hain aaur mere yek khat mein lipatee raat padee hain wo raat buzaa do, meraa wo saamaan lautaa do.
I left behind some memories with you Some days drenched in the monsoons And that one night wrapped in some handwritten pages End that desire…the yearning Give it back to me….
patazad hain kuchh, hain naa .. .. patazad mein kuchh patton ke girane kee aahat kaanon mein yek baar pahan ke lautaayee thee patazad kee wo shaakh abhee tak kaanp rahee hain wo shaakh giraa do, meraa wo saamaan lautaa do.
In the autumn… do you remember? The silent sound of the falling leaves Ringing in the ears…and then fading away The quivering leaves on that autumn bough still remain Shake them off, will you…and my memories too.
ek akelee chhatree mein jab aadhe aadhe bheeg rahe the aadhe sukhe aadhe geele, sukhaa to main le aaee thee gilaa man shaayad, bistar ke paas padaa ho wo bhijawaa do, meraa wo saamaan lautaa do.
Sharing an umbrella and taking turns to get drenched Half dry … half wet…the dry half, I carried with me But my rain -soaked heart still would be there by the bedside Send it please…with all those memories.
Yek so solah chaand kee raate, yek tumhaare kaandhee kaa teel geelee mehandee kee khushaboo, zoothhamoothh ke shikawe kuchh zoothhamoothh ke waade bhee, sab yaad karaa do. sab bhijawaa do, meraa wo saamaan lautaa do
The hundred odd moonlit nights, caressing the mole on your shoulder The fragrance of the damp henna on my palms, those lover’s tiffs Those false promises too, do you remember Send all that back…won’t you?
Yek ijaajat de do bas jab is ko dafanaaoongee main bhee wahee so jaaoongee.
And also allow me one last thing will you That when I bury my past I too shall sleep forever, by its side…
VIII. Slumdog Millionaire, 2008… the world gets a glimpse of his poetic genius!
Jai ho, jai ho Aaja, aaja jind shamiyane ke tale Aaja jariwale nile aasman ke tale Jai ho, jai ho Jai ho…( let’s rejoice)!
Come join me under the marquee of life The beautiful, shimmering blue skies.
Ratti, ratti sachi maine jaan gavayi hai Nach, nach koylo pe raat bitayi hai Akhiyon ki neend maine phoonko se uda di Neele tare se maine ungli jalayi hai.
Have suffered every living moment Have walked on fire, all my life Lost my sleep with every breath And scalded my finger as I reached for that star…
Chakh le, ha, chakh le ye raat shahad hai, chakh le Rakh le, ha, dil hai dil aakhri had hai, rakh le Kala, kala kajal tera koi kala jadoo hai na Kala, kala kajal tera koi kala jadoo hai na.
Come let’s savor this night, as sweet as honey Come let’s treasure these hearts full of love, never ending and limitless Your dark smoky eyes, weave magic Enchanting, enticing….black magic.
Kab se, ha kab se tu lab pe ruki hai kah de Kah de, ha kah de ab aankh jhuki hai, kah de Aisi, aisi roshan aankhe roshan dono bhi hai, hai kya?
Speak out and tell me what you always wanted to say I surrender before you, so tell me My lowered eyelids are emitting joy… Can you sense that…can you?
Aaja, aaja jind shamiyane ke tale Aaja jariwale nile aasman ke tale Jai ho…
Come join me under the marquee of life The beautiful, shimmering blue skies.
IX. In 'Ishqiya' (Romantic), 2010, Gulzar’s latest offering, he takes you on the journey of a heart that has discovered love , albeit a little late…the words make you smile…they make you sigh and agree to his submission that your heart remains a child all your life..
Aisi ulji nazar unse hatt ti nahi Daant se reshmi dor katt ti nahi Umar kab ki baras ke safaid ho gayi Kaari badari jawani ki chatt ti nahi Walla ye dhadkan bhadne lagi hai Chehre ki rangat udne lagi hai Darr lagta hai tanha sone mein ji Dil to bachcha hai ji Dil to bachcha hai ji Thoda kaccha hai ji Haan, dil to baccha hai ji.
Caught in such an eye lock, it’s hard to look away As much as one may try, it’s hard to break away The grays of my age catching up But my heart stays eternally young God, why does it beat so fast And cause the color to drain away from my face Why am I afraid to be alone at night Why the heart is behaving this way It is so naïve…like a child Can so easily break Yes, so naïve…
Kisko pataa tha pehlu mein rakha Dil aisa paaji bhi hoga Hum to hamesha samajhte the koi Hum jaisa haaji hi hoga Hai zor karein, kitna shor karein Bewaja baatein pe ainwe gaur karein Dilsa koi kameena nahi Koi to rokey, koi to tokey Iss umar mein ab khaogey dhokhe Darr lagta hai ishq karne mein ji Dil to bachcha hai ji Dil to bachcha hai ji Thoda kaccha hai ji Haan dil to baccha hai ji.
Who knew that this heart of mine Will be such a rogue I always thought it was sane Just as I was…. Hard as I try, to convince it It keeps getting distracted Nothing could be more unruly than this heart If I listen to it, I am afraid I am in for a heartache It’s so naïve Easy to break…
Aisi udhaasi baithi hai dil pe Hassne se ghabra rahe hain Saari jawani katra ke kaati Piri mein takra gaye hain Dil dhadakta hai to aise lagta hai woh Aa raha hai yahin dekhta hi na woh Prem ki maarein kataar re Taubah ye lamhe katt te nahi kyun Aankhein se meri hatt te nahi kyun Darr lagta hai mujhse kehne mein ji Dil toh bachcha hai ji.
Sadness permanently resides inside I am scared to smile I spent my youth hesitating And now I have stumbled upon love Whenever the heart beats, I feel She is coming my way
It’s hard to wait for those moments Etched forever on my soul I am scared to speak out, because The heart is so naïve Yes…childlike It’s so naïve Easy to break…
X Though this one is not a song from a film, I decided to included this nevertheless because anyone who has grown up with the Indian TV adaptation of the Jungle book could not help but fall in love with this delightful title song created by Gulzar and Vishal Bhardwaj.
Jungle Jungle baat chali hai pata chala hai... Arre chaddi pehen ke phool khila hai phool khila hai Ek parinda hoy sharminda, tha woh nanga Bhai isse to ande ke andar, tha woh changa Soch raha hai bahar aakhar kyuu niklahai Arre chaddi pehen ke phool khila hai phool khila hai.
Hear the rumors that are doing the rounds… A young cherub in his diapers has been found And did you hear about that baby bird...
It really is so silly… so absurd Behaving like a prude Coz it was nude Wondering why the hell Did he have to break that shell? And come out of that egg into this world…
